Utility box flag



y 944. A. ROE 2,352,975

UTILITY BOX FLAG Filed-Dec. 1, 1945 INVENTOR. 6 /-?A N T /7. H05

Patented July 4, 1944 STATES Para This invention relates to flags for utility boxes, mail boxes, milk boxes, or any box requiring a signal flag.

The object of the invention is to provide a signal flag which may be seen at a considerable distance; which may be set in an upright position to indicate that there is something in the box to be taken; which will automatically go down to a horizontal position when the door or lid of the box is opened; and which may be used to force the door or lid of the box open in the event such door or lid is frozen or rusted, or hard to open. 7

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing of a rural mailbox, in which Figure 1 .is a side view of the box with the signal flag in an upright position indicating that there is something in the box to be taken. Figure 2 is a side view of the box showing the flag being forced down to a. horizontal position as the lid of the box is opened, or showing the lid of the box being forced open when pressure is used on the flag to move it from the upright position to the horizontal position. Figure 3 is a front view of the box showing the flag in the upright position. Figure 4 is a separate top view of angle plate 1.

In the above mentioned figures l is a vertical I section of the box; 2 is the flag; 3 is the flagstafi; & is a pivot by which the iiagstaii is fastened to the body of the box; 5 is the handle by which the lid is opened; 6 is the lid of the box; I is an angle plate fastened to the lid by rivets 8 and 9; I is a stopblock to hold the flagstafi in a horizontal position; H is a slot in the lower end of flagstaff 3; and i2 are pivots by which the lid is secured to the body of the box.

'In the accompanying drawing fiagstaff '3 is secured to box I by means of pivot 4 on which the fiagstafi' 3 may rotate. Figure 1 shows the lid closed and the flag in upright position with angle plate 1 comprising a projection la, engaging slot ll. As lid 6 is moved to open position by means of handle the angle plate 1 moves with the lid, being secured to the lid by rivets 8 and 9, and being engaged in slot II it carries the lower end of fiagstafi 3 with it causing the flags'tafl 3 to rotate on pivot 4 and the flag to move toward a horizontal position as shown in Figure 2. The weight of the flag 2 then carries the flagstafi 3 on down against stopblock Ill.

The reverse of this operation is also true. With 1 the lid closed and the flag in upright position as shown in Figure 1, use pressure on flag 2 and move it toward a horizontal position. The flagstafl 3 then rotates on pivot 4 and the lower end of the fiagstafi 3 bears against angle plate I,

which is secured to the lid 6 by means of rivets 8 and 9, and the lid 6 is forced to open position as shown in Figure 2 without touching the handle 5.

It will therefore be readily seen that when the hd is opened in the usual way by handle 5 the flag is automatically forced down to a horizontal position and th additional operation of putting the flag down, as is necessary with the type of boxes and flags now in use, is entirelyeliminated. When, because of ice, rust, etc., the lid can not be opened in the usual way with handle 5, the flag may thenbe used as a lever to force the lid open.

It will be noted from Figure 1 of the drawing that the notch H is formed at the lowerend of the fiagstaii below the pivot 4, so that, when the lid is closed, the projection 1a carried, by the lid, the pivot 8 and the notch II, as well as one o! the pivots l2, are all in vertically substantial alinement. The flagstaff is, therefore, adapted to function as a straight lever of the first class. As such, it receives from or imparts to the projection la, a direct thrust when the lid is at or near its fully closed position. It is here that the maximum force is required to initiate pivotal movement of the lid on its pivots l2 or pivotal movement to the fiagstafl on its pivot 4, as the case may be.

Having described my invention and illustrated its operation by means of the accompanying drawing; therefore,

I claim: I

1. A receptacle body having a pivoted closure,

- a signal flag having a'fiagstaff pivotedlntermeof the fiagstafi when the lid is in closed position with the fiagstafl vertical, said flagstafl pivot,

' notch and projection being at that time in substantial vertical alinement, whereby pressure applied to the flagstafl to move it from vertical to horizontal positionwill impart pivotal movement to the closure and pivotal movement of the closure from closed to open position will impart pivotal movement of the flagstafl in the direction of its horizontal position.

2. A receptacle body having a lid mounted for pivotal movement on horizontal pivots near the bottom oi the receptacle and provided with a projection on one side oi. said lid extending when the lid is closed to a point substantially vertically above one o! the lid pivots, and a signal flag having a straight flagstafl movable from vertical to horizontal position on a pivot secured to the receptacle body vertically above the projection oi the lid when the lid is closed, said fiagsta-fl being provided at its lower end with a flaring notch straddling the projection of the lid, where by pressure applied to the flagstaii to move it GRANT ARTHUR ROE. 

